CfA

About the sector

We live in a multilingual, multicultural world. Our engagement with the non-English speaking world will remain superficial and one-sided unless we develop our capacity in other languages too.

CfA believes that with increased ability in languages, the UK will:

• Be more successful in the global economy
• Build better relationships at home and abroad
• Enable young Britons to compete with their international peers

Languages directly benefit our economy and have a profound benefit both culturally and to the quality of life.

English is one of the great global languages of the 21st century, but it will only take us so far. Only 6% of the world’s population speak English as a first language, and 75% of the world’s population don’t speak any English at all.

CfA aims to increase language proficiency throughout the UK and develop intercultural working skills across all industries as the UK continues to successfully compete in the global economy.

National Occupational Standards

CFA is responsible for maintaining and developing National Occupational Standards in languages and intercultural skills for work and standards for the specialist language professions, interpreting and translation. These have been created through a long process of consultation with language and intercultural professionals and employers, and are approved by the UK regulators.

All Standards

Qualifications

A wide range of vocational and academic language qualifications are available within the UK and internationally, in many languages and at all skill levels. NVQs are available in several languages at four levels but no Apprenticeships in Languages or related professions currently exist.

Full details of all qualifications available for languages and related professions can be found on the Register of Regulated Qualifications at http://register.ofqual.gov.uk/Qualification

Contact

For more information on Languages and Intercultural working activities, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .